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Posted 8/26/2006 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all. At my last rheumy visit we went over xrays of my hands and feet. He said I now have OA in my hands(fingers) as well as the RA. Funny, that doesn't bother me at all.

Can you clarify for me what OA is...it's not an AI issue, is it mechanical damage? Is it an adjunct to RA? Is it from something else? He didn't make a big deal about since I have more pressing issues with my AS & Chron's right now. I'm on Remicade, MTX & folic acid. My hands hurt, but not as bad as the areas affected by AS.

Anything I can supplement my prescriptions with to help retard the OA?

You know, I'm not surprised I have OA - good heavens, I've been using my hands for everything forever! I just don't want it to become a bigger issue than it is right now. I'm a trapshooter -- I need my hands!!

Appreciate any information or help you can provide.

Thanks!
Posted 8/26/2006 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
hi starrnr,
i am no expert and perhaps one will come along shortly but at my last rheumy visit i was told the disfigurment at my distal interphalangeal joint was OA because RA does not attack that joint. that is the furthest joint on your finger near the nail bed, also your trigger finger hence the joint damage and the results of wear and tear resulting in OA.

the other joints of the finger pip and mcp could be RA if u have that or i would think OA joint damage could occur. i think prior levels of inflammation my have a diagnosing factor?

so that is my lay knowledge hope it might give some insight?

i think it is the trapshooting that is doing u in? my advice.... dont shoot, but that would be my advice even if u didnt have OA. sry i dislike guns.... :)
Posted 8/26/2006 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Yalinda...the OA I have is in both hands at the top joint (yes, near the nail), not just my trigger finger. I have RA at the joints below that and in my knuckles. The OA seems to be mild in comparison with everything else which is why I'm guessing my doctor wasn't overly concerned this time.

I'm just curious if this is just wear and tear, short of never using my hands for anything again (not likely), is there some sort of supplement I can take to keep it relatively at bay.

Btw, I shoot at targets only, we practice the utmost in safety at all times and it's perfectly ok to dislike guns...no apologies necessary!

Take care.
Posted 8/27/2006 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there!  Sorry it has taken me so long in replying to your post... I'm a little "off" this weekend!  Welcome to the Arthritis side of the Forum! :-) I must say, your CD Forum has given me quite the chuckle this weekend... tongue I don't have CD, I think I may have some type of IBS... oh well... ANYWAY -  back to your questions... scool

 

Ok, I by no means am an expert, like most, I get all my "knowledge" off of other people's testimonies and my own... I do not have OA, I have PA, but have done my fair share of research once I got diagnosed as being "arthritic" at 32...

 

OA used to be considered Arthritis you'd get from wear and tear, but recently studies have shown that that may not necessarily be the case anymore... 'Cause supposedly regular exercise and movement of the effected joints is supposed to help the OA.. So what causes it?  No one really knows.  Basically what happens, is the cartilage starts to wear away and the bones start to rub together, thus causing pain... That's why most people thought it was "wear and tear" before 'cause it was thought that over use of the joint made the cartilage wear away...  The train of thought now is that there is an enzyme that some people produce that causes the cartilage to break down... Heredity may also play a factor in it.  I'm not truly convinced it's not a wear and tear issue though... nono

 

Kinda like when babies cut teeth (not sure if you have kids) but my kids pediatrician always said, "Fever's are not associated with cutting teeth"... Yet, all 3 of my kids when they cut teeth ran a low grade fever before the tooth broke the skin, coincidence?  I don't think so.  :-)   And since you are a trap shooter, I am willing to bet the OA is in the joints you use for that, yes?  Hhhmmm...

 

As far as keeping it at bay... hhhmmmm.... You can try Glucosamine, Chondritin and MSM... I believe Flax Seed Oils and Fish Liver Oils will help... What do you take for the pain?  You can take tylenol or advil if it isn't too bad, and you can tolerate it...

 

I don't know if I answered any of your questions or not... or made you more confused (I have a knack for that tongue Just ask my hubby).... But I hope I helped some! 

 

Hope to hear from you again soon... I also hope you get the relief you need... I'm off to check out the "Toilet Paper" thread again... yeah that's good stuff!  tee hee hee

 

Duck

 

P.S.  Our resident nurse Erin may be along shortly to give her wonderful advice also!  Hang in there!

 

 

Posted 8/28/2006 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Ducky - thanks for the response. I too am late in responding, actually read an entire book this weekend! What a luxury. Feel free to be entertained by us crohnies anytime...alot of humor on the strangest topics. devil Hope you're doing ok.

I'd much prefer the OA to be 'wear & tear' rather than something else within my body tearing it down. Having RA & AS is enough, thank you very much! yeah I was having difficulties trying to get some 'real' information - hence my posts here to those in the know.

Yes, my trigger finger is affected, but so are my other fingers on both hands - same with my RA. I've only been shooting for almost 4 years, so I can't imagine all of a sudden OA would appear. That's why I'm hoping for the w&t.

I can't take pain med's - I'm a crohnie with C not D and they make the C much worse. I take ibuprofen - sparingly now. I used to take it on a much more regular and frequent scale.

"Glucosamine, Chondritin and MSM" do these really help? Any suggestions on what kind, how much to take? Any chance this will interfere with med's I'm currently taking? I probably should be adding flaxseed or Omega 3 oils to my diet anyway, good reminder.

I appreciate the hello and information...pop on by anytime!

Take care and thanks!
Posted 8/28/2006 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
must of been a good book if you didnt put it down.

oh and i never replied earlier but glad to her u only target shoot, sry i am one of those animal lovers who think only photos should be shot in the wild. i know i got alot of growns with that statement from the world web hehehee ~ yalinda
Posted 8/28/2006 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Sherree -

What is your like of work? Do you work with your hands alot? I'm wonder if the trap-shooting has just exascerbated (sp?) the Arthritis, know what I mean? Was there, but after trapshooting these past 4 years, has been more prevelant?

I hear the Glucosamine, Chondritin and MSM is good for some people.. I personally don't take it, but I know a few people with OA that do... It probably wouldn't hurt me any to take it though, I just get so darn tired of taking pills all the time, you know it?

Stop by anytime, we're always around! And would love to have ya!

Duck
Posted 8/29/2006 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ducky - feeling any better? I work in an office as a project administrator. I work with blueprints, computers, etc. I've always worked in an office -even when I was in the Army! So, it makes more sense for the W&T aspect of OA to me since I've been using my hands to work forever. When I was first diagnosed with RA (13 years ago), I freaked precisely because I work in an office. It's worked out ok - sometimes I just notice that my hands hurt more now than they use to, but it's not interfering with anything, yet. Ah well. I understand about taking loads of pills...blech! LoL

Yalinda, it was a great book, could not put it down. First time in eons that I've been able to read such a good book...

Take care and see ya around!
Posted 8/29/2006 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
What book did you read? I just recently read Black Wind by Clive Cussler... was a good book.. I guess it is the last in the Dirk Pitt series (my hubby told me that)..... So now I have to go back and read all the other books... dangit!
Posted 8/29/2006 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (Da Vinci code author). If you read the DaVinci code, A&D introduces Robert Langdon. Could not put the book down! I started the DaVinci Code right after - I'm such a glutton for punishment!!

I haven't read Clive Cussler in years - don't you hate it when you start a series at the end? LOL..
Posted 8/29/2006 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I need to read A&D and the DaVinci Code, the only reason why I haven't is 'cause I know I won't wanna stop reading it! I'm gonna have to go and get them now.. darn!

I didn't realize that Black Wind was the last in the series til the hubby scolded me.. oopsie! Ah, he'll get over it! hee hee hee
Posted 8/29/2006 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
You won't be able to put them down! I didn't think it would grab me the way it did -- but holy cow - just when I thought I had it figured out...LOL Of course, I spent 2 hours today reading the DaVinci Code during my infusion...I hated to stop reading, but I had to leave to go home!

Hubby asked me to hang on to them (I borrowed them) til he got home, so he could read them. It's going to be one quiet house around here this holiday weekend!!!
Posted 8/29/2006 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
How did the infusion go today? Other than getting to read your book for 2 hours! Ok, that's it, I'm going.. tomorrow and getting them.... I've decided, I can't fight it anymore!

Was gonna ask what you were doing for the 3 day weekend, but I already know! Ha! have a cookout and he'll be reading! LOL
Posted 8/29/2006 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Infusion went ok -- I swear the first needle they tried felt like a hose - wasn't sharp enough, they had to use something else. Much better. Other than that, uneventful. I just listened to my Ipod and read my book, like always. I hope it kicks in sooner rather than later though -- I've been flaring something awful in the past 2 weeks.

I'm going to be shooting on Saturday, probably will stick close to home the rest of the weekend since hubby will be reading! What are your plans (reading as well?? LOL)
Posted 8/29/2006 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Had the Remicade kicked in yet? If not, I hope it does soon!

Plans this weekend? Well... hubby and I were supposed to have a HUGE party on Friday, HOWEVER, with the impending possible Hurricane (we live in Charleston, SC), that may be put on hold... I might have to work to get the planes out of here (I'm in the Air Force)... So everything is on hold.. :(
Posted 8/29/2006 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Remicade hasn't kicked in - I expect it to in the next week (takes a while with me!).

I thought the storm was headed towards Florida and you guys in the Gulf states were safe? I was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC - never got to Charleston - hope never to go to SC again!!! I think he's (Ernesto) just gonna poop out and go away anyway, but I'm no weatherperson either!

Be safe, that's all that matters in the general scheme of things, right?
Posted 8/29/2006 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
I think it is just going to be a Tropical Storm, but they are prepping here for a Hurricane just in case... lucky us..
Posted 8/29/2006 11:23 PM (GMT 0)

you guys are just so OA savvy! tongue I'm impressed!  Ducky...worded beautifully. And Yalinda...right on!

Cool Beans Sherree...a sharp shooter...oooh. tee hee hee. i always excelled @ the boardwalk shooting games at the shore.  now i'm a sure shot w/ squirtin' my cats with a water gun. :-) Pea likes water for some reason...she keeps her head under a drippy faucet, so she doesn't mind the squirt.

Ernesto is in Jersey! hah. it's been raining heavy since saturday. i'll send em' down south.

scool  

Posted 8/30/2006 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
ducky did you weather the storm ok? looks like it is sending us rain for our holiday weekend ugh! no bbq's in the pouring rain? i think i am going to make a turkey in a garbage can outside this weekend.

thanks erin but it was only cuz i just asked my doc the same question last visit ... not smart naturally u know hehehehe

yalianda
Posted 8/30/2006 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
are we deep frying this turkey in the garbage can?
or setting a blazing inferno in one?
Garbage Can Turkey!
i like this idea!
oh....so you put a bunch of sticks & wood in a can and put the turkey on a stick like toasting marshmallows? or is it more rotisserie style? LOL
tee hee hee
Posted 8/31/2006 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
ashes on the ground ... turkey on stand....... garbage can inverted to cover...... more ashes on top .... and around can.....creates inferno like heat and cooked in a couple of hours! garbage can new and al.steel only!!!!!!!! no rubbermaids here hehehehehe only set back a portion of your lawn gets burned but what the heck snow will soon cover it... yikes i said that! NO .............................................. we have done it two times for thanksgiving as an alternate type turkey. i have fried turkey's too. not healthy i am certain but if seasoned properly tasty! then when the fried turkey is done and oil still hot you make sweet potato fries yummy with honey and butter.... dang i am gettin hungry and i havent eaten today nothin but a small veggie salad and a peach. better stop talking food or i am gonna raid the fridge before i goto bed! i am trying to loose some of my prednisone weight! eating just my good fresh veggies and fruits. dreaming about my carbs...... i am going to beat this predsnisone weight if it kills me doing it! my doc is going to have to come up with a plan for something to replace the prednisone cuz it is wearing off at this low dose and not working but i think i will take the pain over my huge neck and face. well enough turkey talk get some rest everyone ..... night night mela i see u are online..... :)
Posted 8/31/2006 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
I have OA in all my joints,as well as having Osteoporosis.I take Evista forthat,& only Tylenol xtra strength for the pain.It works for me. I have a very high tolerance for pain.
Posted 8/31/2006 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
hey snowlynn,

can you tell us more about EVISTA? is it just for osteoporosis or is it for OA as well?

 

yalinda...i had some major MAJOR water retention and weight gain from the mega doses of IV and oral steroids from the hospital and the week after.  it's just going down now after 2 weeks.

i found that cutting back or eliminating salt & starches for a while helped big time.  it's uncomfortable isn't it? my arms & legs felt like stuffed sausages! ewwwwww.

but best of luck in getting the pred weight off. don't get discouraged. but eat little bits frequently...if you skip all the meals the body holds on to calories & weight...thus NO WEIGHT LOSS EVEN IF WE'RE EATING VERY LITTLE.  it's like...starvation mode? i'm holding onto everything. slows the metabolism a bit.

i swear by lots and lots of sauteed spinach! low calories and filling (high volume) as a great substitute dinner. yummy too...garlic and EVOO. (and a little italian bread).

take care. 

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